Apparatus for holding sheep



UNITED STATES S. MINNICH,

APPARATUS FOR Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, S. MINNIOH, of Hopewell, in the county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Shearing Sheep; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of I the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view, and Figs. 2 and 3, sectional views.

Like letters refer to like parts.

The nature of my invention relates to the construction and adaptation of a couch upon which sheep are placed, while being shorn of their fleece.

A, A, A, A, represent the posts of the frame. These may be made of timber three inches square, and about 2% feet high. A girth B is framed into each pair of posts, the distance from outside to outside being about two feet. A box C, formed of boards,

and in length about five and a half feet, and

in width sufficient to fill the space between the posts, is secured by screws or nails to a pair of posts at each end, which, with the posts and pieces C, (one only being shown) constitute the frame of the couch.

The couches in which the sheep are secured while being shorn, are two in number, and are formed exactly alike. They consist of three longitudinal pieces each, seen at D D E E and F F, the pieces D, E, F forming one couch, and D E F forming the other. They are alike, both in structure and oflice. The piece D has a round tenon upon each end, which passes through a round hole in the top of the posts as seen at G G. A cross piece H, is screwed or bolted to the piece D, at each end, and to the ends of these is secured the pieces E, F, and these together constitute the couch D E F, an end view of which is seen in Fig. 2. The width of the couch is about one foot and 3 inches. The upper inside corners of the pieces E, F, are chamfered, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 at E F. The couch thus constructed can articulate a little distance upon the round tenons G, for the purpose of PATENT OFFTOE.

OF HOPElVELL, OHIO.

HOLDING SHEEP.

22,190, dated November 30, 1858.

bringing the sheep placed thereon into a proper position for shearing.

The neck pieces I, I, are inserted into the pieces D, D, near one end, by a round tenon. The neck piece is hollowed out upon the upper edge, so as to fit the neck of the sheep. A strap J, J, is fastened to one side, and passes over the neck of the sheep, and is buckled, or hooked down upon the opposite side. At the opposite end of the frame is affixed by a pin joint, to the cross piece K, a side lever L. This lever has a sidewise movement upon the pin by which it is attached to the piece K. An. extension lever M is attached to the lower end of the lever L, and moves sidewise with it. The lever L can be secured at any point, by means of a pin inserted into the holes seen at N.

The lever M has an outward movement upon its fulcrum O. It can be secured at any point by inserting a pin into the holes in the guide piece P. To the top of the lever M is attached two cords Q R, having a loop at the end for securing the hind legs of the sheep when they are placed upon the couch. Two loops, Fig. 3, are formed of leather, which are used to slip over the fore leg of the sheep, when the leg is bent double, for the purpose of more securely confining the animal. V

The manner of using this couch is as follows: The sheep is placed upon its back, or side, upon the couch D E F, with its neck resting upon the neck piece I. The strap J is then passed over the neck of the animal and secured. The loops Q, R, are then passed over the hind feet and the side lever L, properly adjusted. The lever M, is then drawn back to give the proper extension to the legs, and secured by the pin P, in the piece P. These levers can be brought over against the couch D or D as may be desired or rendered necessary by the changing of the sheep from one to the other. hen the ani mal is thus secured, the couch can be turned, first inward and then outward, as the shearing progresses, the fleece falling over the back, and into the wool box beneath the two couches. After one side of a sheep is shorn, the body of the animal is to be transferred to the other couch, and the neck and heels secured in the same manner. The process of extension levers M, L, arranged and opershearlng can then be completed, and the I ating 1n the manner and for the purpose set fleece removed at one end of the Wool box. 2 forth.

What I claim as my improvement and S. MINNICH. 5 desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Witnesses:

The adjustable couches D E F and D E M. CONKLIN,

F, in combination with the neck piece I and JOHN R. \VHARTENLY. 

